Bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit

ABSTRACT

The circuit may include bio-stimulating signal generating circuit which generates a bio-stimulating signal in a bio-stimulating mode, a bio-signal electrode which delivers the bio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating mode and receives a bio-signal in a bio-signal measuring mode, a switch block which is turned on when a voltage of the bio-stimulating signal is greater than a first reference voltage which is greater than a second reference voltage or lower than the second reference voltage, first and second resistors, and a bio-signal measuring circuit which measures voltage signals divided by the first and second resistors or measures a signal of the bio-signal electrode according to whether the switch block is turned on. The first and second resistors may be serially connected between the bio-signal electrode and the switch block, and divide a voltage of a signal of the bio-signal electrode when the switch block is turned on.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0020728, filed onFeb. 22, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure herein relates to an implantable medical device,and more particularly, to a bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuringcircuit.

With development in a low-power, high-density electronic circuitimplementation technology and a high energy density battery technology,an implantable medical device has decreased in size, has multi-function,and has multi-channel. A deep brain stimulator or defibrillator is anexample of a commercialized implantable medical device. Also, thecommercialization of various implantable medical devices is in progress,such as a stomach stimulator, a foot drop treatment device, cochlearimplantation, and brain computer interface (BCI) or an implantable drugpump.

The implantable medical devices are different in symptoms to be treatedwhile most of them have the same algorithm. When an abnormal state in acorresponding bio-signal according to the symptom to be treated isdetected, the implantable medical device stimulates the nerve of aspecific part. The implantable medical device relieves or removes thesymptom to be treated by such a stimulation signal, and allows acorresponding bio-signal to become normal.

However, in an existing implantable medical device, a bio-stimulatingmode and a bio-signal measuring mode are divided. The reason is toprevent a bio-signal signal measuring circuit from becoming damaged by abio-stimulating signal. Thus, the existing implantable medical devicecannot simultaneously perform the bio-stimulating mode and thebio-signal measuring mode. Thus, the existing implantable medical devicehas a limitation in that it is difficult to handle an abnormal signal inreal time that may be caused upon the application of the bio-stimulatingsignal.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit that automatically protects a bio-signal measuringcircuit in a bio-stimulating mode and simultaneously performsbio-stimulating and bio-signal measurement with a single electrode.

An embodiment of the inventive concept provides a bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuit including a bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit, a bio-signal electrode, a switch block, first andsecond resistors, and a bio-signal measuring circuit. Thebio-stimulating signal generating circuit may generate a bio-stimulatingsignal in a bio-stimulating mode. The bio-signal electrode may todeliver the bio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating modeand receive a bio-signal in a bio-signal measuring mode. The switchblock may be turned on in a case where a voltage of the bio-stimulatingsignal is greater than a first reference voltage or lower than a secondreference voltage. The first and second resistors may be seriallyconnected between the bio-signal electrode and the switch block anddivide a voltage of a signal of the bio-signal electrode according towhether the switch block is turned on. The bio-signal measuring circuitmay measure voltage signals divided by the first and second resistors ormeasure a signal of the bio-signal electrode, according to whether theswitch block is turned on. The first reference voltage may be greaterthan the second reference voltage.

In an embodiment of the inventive concept, a circuit for measuring abio-stimulating signal and a bio-signal includes a bio-stimulatingsignal generating circuit, a multiplexer, a connection node, a switchblock, first and second serially connected resistors, and a bio-signalmeasuring circuit. The bio-stimulating signal generating circuit maygenerate a bio-stimulating signal in a bio-stimulating mode. The firstand second bio-signal electrodes may output the bio-stimulating signalgenerated in the bio-stimulating mode and receive a bio-signal in abio-signal measuring mode. The multiplexer may select at least one ofthe first and second bio-signal electrodes by a control signal andconnect the selected bio-signal electrode to the bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit. The connection node may allow the bio-stimulatingsignal generating circuit and the multiplexer to be connected thereto.The switch block may be turned on in a case where a voltage of thebio-stimulating signal is greater than a first reference voltage orlower than a second reference voltage. The first and second seriallyconnected resistors may be connected between the connection node and theswitch block and divide a voltage of a signal of the selected bio-signalelectrode according to whether the switch block is turned on. Thebio-signal measuring circuit may measure voltage signals divided by thefirst and second resistors or measure a signal of the selectedbio-signal electrode, according to whether the switch block is turnedon. The first reference voltage may be greater than the second referencevoltage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the inventive concept, and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrateexemplary embodiments of the inventive concept and, together with thedescription, serve to explain principles of the inventive concept. Inthe drawings:

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram that shows a bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram that shows operations according to thevoltages of first nodes of first and second switch circuits shown inFIG. 1; and

FIGS. 3 to 7 are circuit diagrams that show bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuits according to other embodiments of thepresent application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that the foregoing general descriptions and thefollowing detailed descriptions are all exemplary, and it should beappreciated that the additional descriptions of the claimed inventionare provided. Reference signs are shown in detail in the exemplaryembodiments of the inventive concept, and their examples are shown inreference drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numeral isused for descriptions and drawings in order to refer to the same orsimilar part.

In the following, a semiconductor circuit would be used as an examplefor describing the characteristic and function of the inventive concept.However, a person skilled in the art would be capable of easilyunderstanding other advantages and performance of the inventive conceptaccording to the content set forth herein. The inventive concept wouldalso be capable of being implemented or applied through otherembodiments. Moreover, the detailed description may be modified orchanged according to a perspective and application without departingsignificantly from the scope, technical spirit and other objects of theinventive concept.

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram that shows a bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit according to an embodiment of the present application.Referring to FIG. 1, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuringcircuit 100 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 110,a bio-signal electrode 120, first and second resistors R1 and R2, firstand second switch circuits 130 and 140, and a bio-signal measuringcircuit 150.

The operation of the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit100 may be divided into a bio-stimulating mode and a bio-signalmeasuring mode. The bio-stimulating mode is a mode in which thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100 stimulates a body.The bio-signal measuring mode is a mode in which the bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuit 100 measures a response signal for abio-stimulating signal or a general bio-signal from a body.

The bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 110 is connected to thebio-signal electrode 120, the first resistor R1, and the first andsecond switch circuits 130 and 140 through the first node N1. Thebio-stimulating signal generating circuit 110 generates abio-stimulating signal in the bio-stimulating mode. The generatedbio-stimulating signal is provided to the bio-signal electrode 120.Also, the generated bio-stimulating signal is provided to the first andsecond switch circuits 130 and 140. For example, the bio-stimulatingsignal may be a voltage or current signal. Thus, the bio-stimulatingsignal generating circuit 110 may include all circuits that may generatethe voltage or current signal. For example, the bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit 110 may include a digital analog converter (DAC) orfunction generator.

For example, the bio-stimulating signal may include at least one oftranscranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), transcranial AlternatingCurrent Stimulation (tACS), or transcranial Random-Noise Stimulation(tRNS).

The bio-signal electrode 120 is connected to the bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit 110, the first resistor R1, and the first and secondswitch circuits 130 and 140 through the first node N1. The bio-signalelectrode 120 delivers to a body the bio-stimulating signal generated bythe bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 110. Alternatively, thebio-signal electrode 120 receives the bio-signal from the body. That is,the bio-signal electrode 120 may be used for both bio-stimulating signalgeneration and bio-signal measurement.

For example, the bio-signal may include at least one ofelectroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram(EMG), or electrooculography (EOG).

The first resistor R1 is connected between the first node N1 and thesecond node N2. The second resistor R2 is connected between the secondnode N2 and a third node N3. In the case where at least one of the firstand second switch circuits 130 and 140 is turned on, the first andsecond resistors R1 and R2 may operate as voltage dividers. In thiscase, the first and second resistors R1 and R2 divide a voltage of thefirst node according to the proportion of values of the first resistorR1 and the second resistor R2 to provide the voltage to the second nodeN2.

For example, resistances of the first resistor R1 and the secondresistor R2 may be determined so that the amount of current flowingalong the first resistor R1 is lower than an allowable amount of currentof the bio-signal measuring circuit 150. Alternatively, the resistancesof the first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 may be determined tobe lower than the allowable amount of current of the first and secondswitch circuits 130 and 140. Also, the proportion of the resistances ofthe first resistor R1 and the second resistor R2 may be defined by anallowable range of voltage of the bio-signal measuring circuit 150. Thatis, the first and second resistors R1 and R2 are circuits for preventingthe bio-signal measuring circuit 150 from becoming damaged by abio-stimulating signal.

The first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 are connected betweenthe third node N3 and a first source voltage GND. The first switchcircuit 130 may be set to be turned on in the case where a voltage isequal to or higher than a first reference voltage Vref1. The secondswitch circuit 140 may be set to be turned on in the case where avoltage is equal to or higher than a second reference voltage Vref2. Inthe present embodiment, the first and second switch circuits 130 and 140are controlled by a voltage of the first node N1. Here, the voltage ofthe first node N1 would be a bio-stimulating signal or bio-signal asdescribed above. Thus, the first switch circuit 130 is turned on in thecase where the voltage of the first node N1 is equal to or higher thanthe first reference voltage Vref1. The second switch circuit 140 isturned on in the case where the voltage of the first node N1 is lowerthan or equal to the second reference voltage Vref2. The first referencevoltage Vref1 is greater than the second reference voltage Vref2. Theconditions and examples of the first and second reference voltages Vref1and Vref2 would be described with reference to FIG. 2.

For example, the first switch circuit 130 may include an NMOStransistor. In this case, the first reference voltage Vref1 would be thethreshold voltage of the NMOS transistor. Alternatively, the firstswitch circuit 130 may include an NPN type bipolar junction transistor(BJT). For example, the second switch circuit 140 may include a PMOStransistor. In this case, the second reference voltage Vref2 would bethe threshold voltage of the PMOS transistor. Alternatively, the secondswitch circuit 140 may include a PNP type BJT. The operating regions ofthe first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 according to thevoltage of the first node N1 would be described with reference to FIG.2.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram that shows operations according to thevoltages of first nodes of first and second switch circuits shown inFIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, it is possible to be aware of the operatingstates of the first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 in FIG. 1according to a level of a bio-stimulating signal.

In the case where a voltage of the first node N1 is greater than thefirst reference voltage Vref1, the first switch circuit 130 is turned onand the second switch circuit 140 is turned off. In the case where thevoltage of the first node N1 is a voltage level between the firstreference voltage Vref1 and the second reference voltage Vref2, thefirst and second switch circuits 130 and 140 are turned off. In the casewhere the voltage of the first node N1 is lower than the secondreference voltage Vref2, the first switch circuit 130 is turned off andthe second switch circuit 140 is turned on.

The first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 are circuits forpreventing the bio-signal measuring circuit 150 from becoming damaged bya bio-stimulating signal. Thus, the first and second switch circuits 130and 140 are set to be turned on when the bio-stimulating signal isgenerated. On the contrary, the first and second switch circuits 130 and140 should not operate in the case where a bio-signal is providedthrough the bio-signal electrode 120. That is, the bio-signal needs notto be provided to the bio-signal measuring circuit 150 through a voltagedivider. The reason is that the bio-signal is small in amplitude.Therefore, the first reference voltage Vref1 may be set to be greaterthan the voltage level of the bio-signal. The second reference voltageVref2 may be set to be lower than the voltage level of the bio-signal.

For example, the bio-stimulating signal and the bio-signal may alwayshave a negative voltage level. In this case, the first and secondreference voltages Vref1 and Vref2 would be a negative voltage level.The bio-stimulating signal and the bio-signal may always have a positivevoltage level. In this case, the first and second reference voltagesVref1 and Vref2 would be a positive voltage level. Alternatively, thebio-stimulating signal and the bio-signal may have a negative voltagelevel or positive voltage level. In this case, the first referencevoltage Vref1 may have a positive voltage level and the second referencevoltage Vref2 may have a negative voltage level.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the bio-signal measuring circuit 150 isconnected to the first and second resistors R1 and R2 through the secondnode N2. The bio-signal measuring circuit 150 measures a voltage of thesecond node N2 in a bio-stimulating mode. In the bio-stimulating mode,the voltage of the second node N2 is a voltage generated when thebio-stimulating signal is divided by a voltage divider. Also, thebio-signal measuring circuit 150 may measure the bio-signal in abio-signal measuring mode. In this case, the first and second switchcircuits 130 and 140 are not turned on according to the above-describedembodiment. Thus, a voltage of the second node N2 is the same as thevoltage of the bio-signal. The bi-signal measuring circuit 150 mayinclude all circuits that may measure the voltage or current signal. Forexample, the bio-signal measuring circuit 150 may include an analogdigital converter (ADC), a comparator or an amplifier.

The bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100 in FIG. 1 isshown that each of components (the bio-stimulating signal generatingcircuit, the bio-signal electrode, the first and second switch circuits,or the like) include a single component. However, the presentapplication is not limited thereto. Each component may include aplurality of components. For example, a set of the voltage divider thatincludes the first and second resistors R1 and R2, and the first andsecond switch circuits 130 and 140 may be in plurality. In this case,each set may be configured to operate under the individual condition.Also, although the first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 in FIG.1 are shown to be configured as divided circuits, it is possible toconfigure them as a switch block that performs the same function. Theabove-described switch block would be capable of being implemented inhardware.

The operation of the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit100 is as follows. Firstly, the bio-stimulating signal generatingcircuit 110 generates a bio-stimulating signal in a bio-stimulatingmode. The voltage signal is delivered to a user's body through thebio-signal electrode 120. Also, the voltage signal is delivered to thefirst and second switch circuits 130 and 140 through the first node N1.For example, the case where the voltage signal is greater than the firstreference voltage Vref1 is assumed. In this case, the first switchcircuit 130 is turned on. Subsequently, the first and second resistorsR1 and R2 operates as a voltage divider. Thus, the voltage of the firstnode N1 is divided by the resistance ratio of the first and secondresistors R1 and R2 and provided to the second node N2. Then, thebio-signal measuring circuit 150 measures a voltage of the second nodeN2.

Alternatively, in the case where the voltage signal of the first node N1is lower than the second reference voltage Vref2, the second switchcircuit 140 is turned on. The following operation is the same above.That is, the second switch circuit 140 is turned on so that the firstand second resistors R1 and R2 operate as a voltage divider.Subsequently, the voltage of the bio-stimulating signal is divided andprovided to the second node N2. As described above, the voltage value ofthe second node N2 would be within a range of input of the bio-signalmeasuring circuit 150. Thus, damage to the bio-signal measuring circuit150 by the bio-stimulating signal that has an excessive voltage level isprevented. The bio-signal measuring circuit 150 may measure the voltageof the second node N2 divided by a voltage divider to monitor the actualvoltage level of the bio-stimulating signal.

In a bio-signal measuring mode, the operation of the bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuit 100 is as follows. The bio-signal electrode120 receives the bio-signal from a user's body. In comparison to thebio-stimulating signal, the bio-signal has a relatively low voltagelevel. That is, the bio-signal is lower than the first reference voltageVref1 and higher than the second reference voltage Vref2. Thus, thefirst and second switch circuits 130 and 140 are not turned by thebio-signal. That is, the voltage of the bio-signal is not dividedthrough the first and second resistors R1 and R2. Subsequently, thebio-signal is provided to the bio-signal measuring circuit 150 throughthe first node N1 and the first resistor R1. The bio-signal measuringcircuit 150 measures the received bio-signal.

In summary, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100automatically lowers the voltage level of a signal by a voltage dividerin the bio-stimulating mode to prevent damage to the bio-signalmeasuring circuit 150. In a bio-signal measuring mode, thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100 also inactivates avoltage divider to measure the bio-signal as it is. Thus, thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100 according to anembodiment of the present application may simultaneously performbio-stimulating and bio-signal measurement by a single circuit withoutdividing the bio-signal electrode 120.

FIGS. 3 to 7 are circuit diagrams that show bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuits according to other embodiments of thepresent application.

Referring to FIG. 3, a bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit200 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 210, abio-signal electrode 220, first and second resistors R1 and R2, firstand second comparators 230 and 240, first and second voltage sources V1and V2, first and second switch circuits 250 and 260, and a bio-signalmeasuring circuit 270. Except for the first and second comparators 230and 240 and the first and second switch circuits 250 and 260, thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 200 in FIG. 3 has thesame configuration and operation as the bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit 100 in FIG. 1. Thus, related descriptions are omitted.

The first comparator 230 is connected between the first node N1 and anode CTRL1. The first comparator 230 determines whether the voltagelevel of the first node N1 is greater than the voltage level of thefirst voltage source V1. The first comparator 230 generates a turn-onvoltage for the first switch 250 according to a result of determination.For example, the voltage level of the first voltage source V1 may be setto be equal to the first reference voltage Vref1 in FIG. 2.

The second comparator 240 is connected between the first node N1 and anode CTRL2. The second comparator 240 determines whether the voltagelevel of the first node N1 is lower than the voltage level of the secondvoltage source V2. The second comparator 240 generates a turn-on voltagefor the second switch circuit 260 according to a result ofdetermination. For example, the voltage level of the second voltagesource V2 may be set to be equal to the second reference voltage Vref2in FIG. 2.

The first and second switch circuits 130 and 140 in FIG. 1 areconfigured to be turned on by different reference voltages,respectively. In the case where the first switch circuit 130 is the NMOStransistor and the second switch circuit 140 is the PMOS transistoraccording to the above-described embodiment, the first and secondreference voltages Vref1 and Vref2 become the threshold voltages of theNMOS transistor and the PMOS transistor, respectively. In this case, thethreshold voltage may easily vary by a change in process voltagetemperature (PVT). In an embodiment of FIG. 3, the first and secondswitch circuits 250 and 260 may use the same circuit. That is, the firstand second comparators 230 and 240 generate the same turn-on voltage forrespective nodes CTRL1 and CTRL2 according to a result of comparison.Also, the first and second voltage sources V1 and V2 may be configuredas an adjustable, variable voltage sources. Thus, in comparison to thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 100 in FIG. 1, thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 200 in FIG. 3 is easyto set the voltage levels of the first and second voltage sources V1 andV2 to desired levels.

Referring to FIG. 4, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuringcircuit 300 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 310,a bio-signal electrode 320, first and second resistors R1 and R2, firstand second switch circuits 330 and 340, a bio-signal measuring circuit350, and a control circuit 360. Except for the control circuit 360, thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 300 in FIG. 4 has thesame configuration and operation as the bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit 100 in FIG. 1. Thus, related descriptions are omitted.

The control circuit 360 is connected to the bio-signal measuring circuit350 and the bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 310. The controlcircuit 360 receives feedback on measurement values of a bio-stimulatingsignal and a bio-signal from the bio-signal measuring circuit 350. Thecontrol circuit 360 monitors the feedback measurement value to adjustthe voltage level of a bio-stimulating signal generated by thebio-stimulating signal generating circuit 310. The reason for adjustingthe voltage level of the bio-stimulating signal is that impedance variesaccording to the position of a user or the bio-signal electrode. In thecase where bio-impedance varies, it is difficult to provide a desiredwaveform of the bio-stimulating signal for the same bio-stimulatingsignal. The control circuit 360 controls the bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit 310 to provide the desired waveform of thebio-stimulating signal even when the bio-impedance varies.

For example, the control circuit 360 may include a processor, a microprocessor, a micro controller, a central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessing unit (MPU), a micro controlling unit (MCU) or the like.

For example, the control circuit 360 may include ADC and DAC. The ADCconverts an analog signal monitored by the bio-signal measuring circuit350 into a digital signal. The control circuit 360 generates a digitalsignal or code for controlling the bio-stimulating signal generatingcircuit 310 based on the digital signal from the ADC. The generateddigital signal or code is converted into an analog signal by the DAC tocontrol the bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 310 in real time.

As another example, the control circuit 360 may include a memory orinterface circuit. The memory may store information, such as commandsand programs for the operations of a bio-stimulating mode and abio-signal measuring mode, data for bio-stimulation, and algorithms forthe reading of a bio-signal. The memory may include a random accessmemory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable ROM(EPROM), an electrically EPROM (EEPROM), a flash memory or the like.

The interface circuit may relay the communication between a user and thecontrol circuit 360 according to the control of the control circuit 360.As an example, the interface circuit may include an input interface,such as a keyboard, keypad, button, touch panel, touch screen, touchpad, touch ball, camera, microphone, gyroscope sensor, or vibrationsensor. Also, the interface circuit may include an output interface,such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), organic light emitting diode(OLED) display device, active matrix OLED (AMOLED) display device, LED,speaker, or monitor.

Referring to FIG. 5, a bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit400 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 410, abio-signal electrode 420, first and second resistors R1 and R2, firstand second comparators 430 and 440, first and second voltage sources V1and V2, first and second switch circuits 450 and 460, a bio-signalmeasuring circuit 470, and a control circuit 480. Except for the controlcircuit 480, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 400 inFIG. 5 has the same configuration and operation as the bio-stimulatingand bio-signal measuring circuit 200 in FIG. 3. Also, the controlcircuit 480 in FIG. 5 has the same configuration and operation of thecontrol circuit 360 shown in FIG. 4. Thus, related descriptions areomitted.

Referring to FIG. 6, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuringcircuit 500 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 510,first and second bio-signal electrodes 520 and 530, first and secondcontrol switches SWC1 and SWC2, first and second resistors R1 and R2,first and second switch circuits 540 and 550, a bio-signal measuringcircuit 560, and a control circuit 570. Except for the first and secondbio-signal electrodes 520 and 530 and the first and second controlswitches SWC1 and SWC2, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuringcircuit 500 in FIG. 6 has the same configuration and operation as thebio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 300 in FIG. 4. Thus,related descriptions are omitted.

The first bio-signal electrode 520 is connected to the first controlswitch SWC1. The first control switch SWC1 connects the first node N1 tothe first bio-signal electrode 520 and is controlled by the controlcircuit 570. The second bio-signal electrode 530 is connected to thesecond control switch SWC2. The second control switch SWC2 connects thefirst node N1 to the second bio-signal electrode 530 and is controlledby the control circuit 570.

The bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 500 in FIG. 6 mayinsert the first and second bio-signal electrodes 520 and 530 intodifferent parts of a user body, respectively. Then, the control circuit570 may select one of the first and second bio-signal electrodes 520 and530 for a desired part. For example, in the case where the firstbio-signal electrode 520 is selected, the control circuit 570 closes thefirst control switch SWC1 and opens the second control switch SWC2.Accordingly, the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit 500may perform stimulation and measurement on a desired one of a pluralityof body parts by a single circuit.

Referring to FIG. 6, the control switches SWC1 and SWC2 and thebio-signal electrodes 520 and 530 are shown as two components. However,the present application is not limited thereto. Thus, the controlswitches and the bio-signal electrodes may be configured as two or morecomponents. Also, although the first and second control switches SWC1and SWC2 in FIG. 6 are shown to be configured as divided circuits, it ispossible to configure them as a multiplexer that performs the samefunction. The above-described multiplexer would be capable of beingimplemented in hardware.

Referring to FIG. 7, a bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit600 may include a bio-stimulating signal generating circuit 610, firstand second bio-signal electrodes 620 and 630, first and second resistorsR1 and R2, first and second comparators 640 and 650, first and secondvoltage sources V1 and V2, first and second switch circuits 660 and 670,a bio-signal measuring circuit 680, and a control circuit 690. Exceptfor the first and second bio-signal electrodes 620 and 630 and the firstand second control switches SWC1 and SWC2, the bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuit 600 in FIG. 7 has the same configurationand operation as the bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuit400 in FIG. 5. Also, the first and second bio-signal electrodes 620 and630 and the first and second control switches SWC1 and SWC2 shown inFIG. 7 have the same configurations and operations as the first andsecond bio-signal electrodes 520 and 530 and the first and secondcontrol switches SWC1 and SWC2 shown in FIG. 6. Thus, relateddescriptions are omitted.

The bio-stimulating and bio-signal measuring circuits 100 to 600according to embodiments of the present application may be mounted byusing a package, such as Package on Package (PoP), ball grid array(BGA), chip scale package (CSP), plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC),Plastic Dual In-line Package (PDIP), Die in Waffle Pack, Die in WaferForm, chip on board (COB), Ceramic Dual In-line Package (CERDIP), metricquad flat pack (MQFP), thin quad flat pack (TQFP), small outlineintegrated circuit (SOIC), shrink small outline package (SSOP), thinsmall outline package (TSOP), system in package (SIP), multi chippackage (MCP), Wafer-level Fabricated Package (WFP), or Wafer-LevelProcessed Stack Package (WSP).

According to an embodiment of the inventive concept, the bio-stimulatingand bio-signal measuring circuit may measure a bio-stimulating signaland a bio-signal by a single bio-electrode. Thus, a size of a circuitdecreases and user convenience increases. Also, the bio-stimulating andbio-signal measuring circuit may simultaneously perform bio-stimulatingand bio-signal measurement. Thus, the bio-stimulating and bio-signalmeasuring circuit may detect and handle an abnormal signal by real-timecontrol.

As above, best embodiments are set forth in the drawings and in thespecification. Although specific terms are used herein, they are onlyused for the purpose of describing the inventive concept and not used todefine the meaning or limit the scope of the inventive concept set forthin the following claims. Therefore, a person skilled in the art wouldunderstand that it is possible to implement various variations and otherequivalent embodiments from the inventive concept. Thus, the truetechnical protective scope of the inventive concept would be defined bythe technical spirit of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A circuit for measuring a bio-stimulating signaland a bio-signal, the circuit comprising: a bio-stimulating signalgenerating circuit configured to generate a bio-stimulating signal in abio-stimulating mode; a bio-signal electrode configured to deliver thebio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating mode and receivea bio-signal in a bio-signal measuring mode; a switch block configuredto be turned on in a case where a voltage of the bio-stimulating signalis greater than a first reference voltage or lower than a secondreference voltage; first and second serially connected resistorsconfigured to be connected between the bio-signal electrode and theswitch block and divide a voltage of a signal of the bio-signalelectrode according to whether the switch block is turned on; and abio-signal measuring circuit configured to measure voltage signaldivided by the first and second resistors or measure a signal of thebio-signal electrode, according to whether the switch block is turnedon, wherein the first reference voltage is greater than the secondreference voltage.
 2. The circuit of claim 1, further comprising acontrol circuit configured to receive feedback on a result ofmeasurement from the bio-signal measuring circuit to adjust an intensityof the bio-stimulating signal.
 3. The circuit of claim 1, wherein theswitch block comprises: a first switch circuit configured to be turnedon in a case where the bio-stimulating signal is greater than the firstreference voltage; and a second switch circuit configured to beconnected in parallel to the first switch circuit, and to be turned onin a case where the bio-stimulating signal is lower than the secondreference voltage.
 4. The circuit of claim 3, wherein the first switchcircuit comprises an NMOS transistor and the second switch circuitcomprises a PMOS transistor, wherein a threshold voltage of the NMOStransistor is the first reference voltage, and a threshold voltage ofthe PMOS transistor is the second reference voltage.
 5. The circuit ofclaim 1, further comprising: a first comparator configured to determinewhether the bio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating modeis greater than the first reference voltage and generate a first turn-onvoltage according to a result of determination; and a second comparatorconfigured to determine whether the bio-stimulating signal generated inthe bio-stimulating mode is lower than the second reference voltage andgenerate a second turn-on voltage according to a result ofdetermination, wherein the switch block comprises: a first switchcircuit configured to be turned on or off by the first turn-on voltage;and a second switch circuit configured to be connected in parallel tothe first switch circuit, and to be turned on or off by the secondturn-on voltage.
 6. The circuit of claim 5, further comprising a controlcircuit configured to receive feedback on a result of measurement fromthe bio-signal measuring circuit to adjust an intensity of thebio-stimulating signal.
 7. The circuit of claim 1, wherein thebio-stimulating signal comprises at least one of transcranial DirectCurrent Stimulation (tDCS), transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation(tACS), or transcranial Random-Noise Stimulation (tRNS).
 8. The circuitof claim 1, wherein the bio-signal comprises at least one ofelectroencephalogram (EEG), electrocardiogram (ECG), electromyogram(EMG), or electrooculography (EOG).
 9. A circuit for measuring abio-stimulating signal and a bio-signal, the circuit comprising: abio-stimulating signal generating circuit configured to generate abio-stimulating signal in a bio-stimulating mode; first and secondbio-signal electrodes configured to output the bio-stimulating signalgenerated in the bio-stimulating mode and receive a bio-signal in abio-signal measuring mode; a multiplexer configured to select at leastone of the first and second bio-signal electrodes by a control signaland connect the selected bio-signal electrode to the bio-stimulatingsignal generating circuit; a connection node configured to allow thebio-stimulating signal generating circuit and the multiplexer to beconnected thereto; a switch block configured to be turned on in a casewhere a voltage of the bio-stimulating signal is greater than a firstreference voltage or lower than a second reference voltage; first andsecond serially connected resistors configured to be connected betweenthe connection node and the switch block and divide a voltage of asignal of the selected bio-signal electrode according to whether theswitch block is turned on; and a bio-signal measuring circuit configuredto measure voltage signals divided by the first and second resistors ormeasure a signal of the selected bio-signal electrode, according towhether the switch block is turned on, wherein the first referencevoltage is greater than the second reference voltage.
 10. The circuit ofclaim 9, further comprising a control circuit configured to receivefeedback on a result of measurement from the bio-signal measuringcircuit to adjust an intensity of the bio-stimulating signal, andgenerate the control signal.
 11. The circuit of claim 9, wherein theswitch block comprises: a first switch circuit configured to be turnedon in a case where the bio-stimulating signal is greater than the firstreference voltage; and a second switch circuit configured to beconnected in parallel to the first switch circuit, and to be turned onin a case where the bio-stimulating signal is lower than the secondreference voltage.
 12. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising: afirst comparator configured to determine whether the bio-stimulatingsignal generated in the bio-stimulating mode is greater than the firstreference voltage and generate a first turn-on voltage according to aresult of determination; and a second comparator configured to determinewhether the bio-stimulating signal generated in the bio-stimulating modeis lower than the second reference voltage and generate a second turn-onvoltage according to a result of determination, wherein the switch blockcomprises: a first switch circuit configured to be turned on or off bythe first turn-on voltage; and a second switch circuit configured to beconnected in parallel to the first switch circuit, and to be turned onor off by the second turn-on voltage.
 13. The circuit of claim 12,further comprising a control circuit configured to receive feedback on aresult of measurement from the bio-signal measuring circuit to adjust anintensity of the bio-stimulating signal, and generate the controlsignal.